Scotiabank Supports the Canadian Edition of WiSE24: Women's Startup Lab's Women's International Showcase of Entrepreneurs

MONTREAL, June 17, 2020 /3BL Media/ - The Scotiabank Women Initiative™ announced its involvement in the Montreal edition of WiSE24, Women's International Showcase of Entrepreneurs, in collaboration with Scotiabank, Roynat Capital and Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited. Taking place on Thursday, June 18, 2020, the global event themed Rise Locally, Empower Globally, will feature pitches from early-stage, women-led ventures in 13 cities around the world, including San Francisco, New York, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, São Paulo, Ukraine, and Montreal – the only Canadian city to participate.

The top pitches from the Montreal startups will be  livestreamed globally on June 18, from 1 – 2 p.m. ET.

"Scotiabank and Women's Startup Lab have a natural affiliation, as the mission of The Scotiabank Women Initiative is to help take women-led businesses to the next level, through Access to Capital, Mentorship, and Education," says Maria Mangiocavallo, Vice President of Commercial Banking, Scotiabank, and Advisory Board Member of The Scotiabank Women Initiative. "Organizations like ours serve as a catalyst to accelerating and promoting the innovative work of women entrepreneurs, a necessary force in the growth and prosperity of future economies."

WiSE24 invites technology and innovation leaders, both domestic and international, to look beyond borders for new markets, talent and investment opportunities. In addition to financial tech, biotech, consumer tech and social impact businesses, this year's event will feature start-ups working on innovative solutions to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, an all women jury of partners and professionals from Scotiabank, Roynat Capital and Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited, will present the strongest Montreal pitch with a cash prize.

"Jarislowsky Fraser is pleased to support this outstanding initiative that provides Canadian female entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their talent and businesses on a global scale," says Caroline Bell-Ritchie, Managing Director, Global Private Wealth Management, Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited. "I am inspired by their passion and ingenuity in turning their innovative ideas into startup companies, some of which may become the industry leaders of tomorrow." 

WiSE24 will be webcast live over a 24-hour period, beginning June 18 in Brazil and ending on June 19 in Asia. To register for the event or to learn more, please visit www.womenstartuplab.com/wise24.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future," we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 97,000 employees and assets of over $1.2 trillion (as at April 30, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

About The Scotiabank Women Initiative

The Scotiabank Women Initiative is a comprehensive program to help advance women-owned and women-led businesses across Canada through three key pillars: Access to Capital, Mentorship and Education. Since launching in December 2018, The Scotiabank Women Initiative has achieved several notable milestones. In September 2019, the Bank committed to deploy three billion dollars in capital to women-led businesses in its first three years. The program has engaged more than 1,500 women through our Boot Camps and group mentorship sessions across Canada. We formed The Scotiabank Women Initiative Advisory Board of Scotiabank executives, who provide expertise to help women grow their businesses through facilitated small group mentorship sessions and we developed an online Knowledge Centre for self-directed learning. For more information on The Scotiabank Women Initiative™, visit scotiabankwomeninitiative.com.

About Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited

Founded in 1955 as a research boutique, Jarislowsky Fraser today manages the portfolios of pension funds, foundations and endowments, Indigenous Peoples, corporations and individuals in Canada, the United States and internationally. Its investment philosophy is built on a foundation of time-tested conservative principles and more than 60 years of fundamental research. Jarislowsky Fraser's history and culture are rooted in investment stewardship, which is expressed through an adherence to high-quality investing, a long-term investment horizon and the advancement of good governance and sustainable investing.

For media enquiries only: Erin Truax, Scotiabank, Erin.Truax@Scotiabank.com, 416-578-9659; Quyn Pham, Jarislowsky Fraser Limited, qpham@jflglobal.com, 514-842-2727